"i am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn, before you have harvested your grain and before the grapevine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have produced their crops. from this day onward i will bless you." –haggai 2:19
"even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barnes are empty, yet i will rejoice in the lord! i will be joyful in the God of my salvation. the sovereign lord is my strength! he will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." –hababbuk 3:17-19
"surely the lord has done great things! don't be afraid, my people! be glad now and rejoice because the lord has done gerat things. don't be afraid, you animals of the field! the pastures will soon be green. the trees will again be filled with luscious fruit; fig trees and grapevines will flourish once more. rejoice, you people of jerusalem! rejoice in the lord your God! for the rains he sends are an expression of his grace. once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. the threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil." –joel 2:20-24
"the lord says, 'then i will heal you of your idolatry and faithlessness, and my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever! i will be to israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. it will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in lebanon. its branches will spread out like those of beautiful olive tress, as fragrant as the cedar forests of lebanon. my people will return again to the safety of their land. they will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. they will be as fragrant as the wines of lebanon. o israel, stay away from idols! i am the one who looks after you and cares for you. i am like a tree that is always green, giving my fruit to you all through the year.' let those who are discerning listen carefully. the paths of the lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. but sinners stumble and fall along the way." –hosea 14:4-9
"i am still not all i should be, but i am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." –philippians 3:13
"even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet i will rejoice in the Lord! i will be joyful in the God of my salvation. the sovereign Lord is my strength!" –habakkuk 3:17-19a
